Truss



Sept. 9, 1952 L. P. MACK ET AL TRUSS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 22, 1950 INVENTORSI LOUIS P. MACK RUSSELL A. WINTERS ATTORNEY I WW Y L. P. MACK ET AL TRUSS FIE- 31 0 w w z u Sept. 9, 1952 Filed May 22, 1950 Patented Sept. 9, 1952 TRUSS Louis P. Mack and Russell A. Winters, Chicago, 111.; said Winters assignor to said Mack Application May 2.2, 1950,,Serial No. 163,458

This invention relates to an improved truss having an improved type of truss pad.

An inguinal hernia is caused by the passage of a loop of intestine through the inguinal canal. This canal is a tube about two and one-half inches. long which lies close to the body surface. The upper end of the tube is called the internal ring, and the lower end the external ring.

Heretofore truss pads, for the most part, have applied pressure only at the external ring, or else an elongated truss pad has been provided which will apply pressure over a considerable portion of the length of the canal. The first type of truss pad, while it is effective to a certain degree, is not effective to prevent the entry of the intestine into the internal ring, with the result that there is a constant irritation of the tissues of the internal ring which prevent the same from healing.

It is an object of our invention to provide a truss pad having pressure applying members which bear both on the internal ring and on the external ring so as to provide improved support and at the same time to permit healing of the internal ring.

The prior art truss pads of the second type, which comp-rise an elongate pad, are not too satisfactory, because the application of pressure is not sufficiently concentrated to prevent themtestine from entering the internal ring in the first instance.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved truss pad in which the pres sure is applied at three separate points, at-the internal ring, at the external ring, and at a point mid-way between the two which will compress the inguinal canal at its central portion to eliminate impulses slipping through the canal.

A still further object is to provide an improved truss pad which is shaped and mounted on the truss plate in such a manner that it will not roll or slip oiT the inguinal canal, nor will it twist or otherwise become displaced. In this connection, the truss pad is secured to the truss plate at two spaced points, to preventtwisting, and is held firmly against the surface of the truss pad to prevent rolling and slipping. The pressure members are provided with plane surfaces of substantial width to eliminate the tendency to roll.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for securing the truss pad to a truss plate which permits removal and replacement of the truss pad and which also permits a 9 Claims. (Cl. 12896) change of position of the truss pad so that the truss Will be suitable for other types of hernia, and also to provide a securing means which will preclude the user from inadvertently mounting the truss pad in a reversed position.

Still another object is to provide a truss in which both the plate and the pad are flexible so as to permit proper support at all times and in all positions of the body. This flexibility, in other words, permits the truss pad to conform itself to the movements of the body.

Still another object is to provide an improved truss pad which is particularly well adapted for scrotal hernia.

A still further object is to provide an improved truss in whichthe truss plate is provided with flexible tabs which cooperate with thetruss pads to provide an additional support for certain areas below the truss pad- Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

With reference now to the accompanying drawings in which, like reference; numerals designate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a truss embodying my invention in position on the body of the user;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the truss plate and truss pads showingin dotted lines a changed position of the latter;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the truss pad shown in Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of a modified form of truss pad; and

Fig. 6 is a section taken along line ii--6 of Fig. 5.

Thejtruss comprises a truss plate It having elastic bands [I and I2 secured thereto which are adapted to encircle the waist of the user to hold the truss in position as shown in Fig. 1. A suitable buckle I3 is provided for the bands H and i2. Leg bands I 4 are attached to flexible tabs 15 which project from the lower edge of the truss plate. The leg bands are passed around the legs of the user as shown in Fig. 1 and the free ends are attached to the bands H and I2 by means of suitable attaching means It.

One ormore truss pads H are mounted on the rear surface of the truss plate. Each pad comprises a, flexible elongate member having a length more than twice its average width. Integrally formed with said elongate member are three pressure members, a top pressure member [8, a middle pressure member %3, and a bottom pressure member 20. These are connected to each other by flexible connecting portions 2! and 22. Preferably, the pad is an integral memher, being molded from a rubber composition which contains a high percentage of pure gum rubber. Thus, the pressure members have a certain amount of resilience or give and the connecting portions may be readily flexed so that the pad may conform itself to the body movements of the user. The corners of the pressure members are rounded which, together with their resilience, provide supporting means which will not cut into the users [body or otherwise irritate the skin. The truss pad I! is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in full scale. The top pressure member I 8 is of circular outline and the bottom pressure member 20 is of a generally oval outline, being somewhat wider than the top member [8. The centers of the top and bottom pressure members are slightly greater than two and one-half inches apart, and are designed so that the top member will overlie the internal ring and the bottom member will overlie the external ring of the inguinal canal.

The middle pressure member I9 is ridge-shaped or of generally rectangular outline and is oriented transversely to the axis of the canal. It is adapted to bear against the central part of the canal.

The rear surfaces of the three pressure members are each provided with flat portions which fall in a common plane 23 which is disposed at a slight angle to the front surface 30 of the truss pad. Thus, the middle pressure member is thicker than the top pressure member and the bottom pressure member is thicker than the middle pressure member. Thus, the rear surfaces 23, especially when the pad is flexed, will more nearly conform to the contour of the abdominal wall, and will eliminate the appearance of bulkiness.

Two projecting members 24 and 25 project forwardly from the front surface 30 and serve as a means by which the truss pad can be mounted on the truss plate, as shown in Fig. 3. These projections are provided with narrow neck portions 25 and 21 'which'fit into holes 28 and 29, respectively, that are formed in the truss pad IE1. The tapering points of the projections facilitate their insertion, and the shoulder provided by the neck portion tends to lock the pads securely against the rear surface .of the plate. Thus each pad is securely anchored against any tendency to roll or to slip, and the fact thatit is secured at two spaced points prevents any tendency to twist.

The hole 29 and neck portion 21 are larger in diameter than the hole 28 and neck portion 25. Thus, the user cannot mount the pad on the plate in a reversed position.

The projections 24 and '25 are preferably molded integrally with the remainder of the pad, and they are located opposite the thicker pressure members, rather than the thinner connecting portions, in order to reduce any tendency to tear.

As shown in Fig. 2, additional holes 3| are provided in the plate H) which are spaced from holes 29 by a distance which equals the spacing of the holes 28 and 29. Thus, the pads can be securely mounted in the position shown in dotted lines, in which position the pads provide the proper support in mid-line incisions, surgical recurrences, or in appendix incision, or in direct hernia cases that do not follow the inguinal canal.

A modified form of pad designated by the reference numeral 32 is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This pad is provided with top and middle pressure members 18' and [9 which correspond to the corresponding members of pad 11. However, the bottom pressure member 33 is of a generally triangular shape and is designed to provide additional support in cases of scrotal hernias which have a weakness in Hesselbachs triangle, which is above the external ring. It will be observed that the triangular shape of the bottom pressure member 34 permits the pressure to be applied at both points, that is, at the external ring as well as above the ring or directly above the pubic tubercle and pubic bone where direct weakness and surgical recurrences occur irrespective of whether the pressure truss pad is mounted on the left or right side of the plate.

The top and bottom edges of the truss plate it, at the sides, are feathered or reduced in thickness as indicated by the reference numeral 36 in Figs. 2 and 3. This serves to prevent the edges from digging into the body. The inner surface of the truss plate is covered with a layer Canton flannel 31 to avoid direct contact between the rubber and the skin.

As shown in Fig. 1, the'tabs 15, which are drawn rearwardly against the body by means of the leg bands l4, cooperate with the truss pads 11 to support the hernia at the areas of the genital crease or space over the origin of the abductor muscles, which areas could not be covered by a pad since the :bulk or any inherent rigidity of the pad would impede body movements. Such areas require support in severe cases of scrotal hernia. The leg bands, which hold the tabs against such areas, pass posteriorly beneath the curvature of the gluteal muscles.

To summarize the operation, the pads I! will apply pressure not only at the external ring or the site of the swelling, but also at the internal ring, or site of the origin of the hernia, which is about 2 inches toward the crest of the bony girdle and which lies approximately 1 inches beneath the skin. The pads additionally apply pressure at the canal, thereby completely collapsing the canal and permitting the tissues thereof to heal. There will be no irritation of the tissues due to the funneling of the intestine through the internal ring. The padsv are detachably mounted by means of the interlocking projections 24 and 25 which are arranged in such a manner as to prevent the pad from being inadvertently reversed.

F 'or surgical recurrences or other conditions which require support inwardly of the inguinal canal, the additional hole 3| permits the pads to be mounted in the proper position.

For cases of scrotal hernia, the pads 32 may be substituted for the pads [1. These pads 32 apply pressure on both sides of and below the external ring.

Both the plate l0 and the pads are formed of a rubber composition which is flexible and resillent and which permits proper support to be maintained during all body movements and in all positions.

After the pad has been mounted on the truss plate in the proper position, the pointed ends of the projections 24 and 25, which facilitate the mounting ope t n, can be cut off so as to eliminate the bulky appearance.

We claim:

1. A truss pad comprising a flexible elongate rubber body member having a length more than twice its average width and having a normally flat front surface, three aligned pressure members integral therewith and projecting rearwardly, flexible connecting portions between adjacent pressure members, and attaching members projecting forwardly from said front surface.

2. A truss pad as claimed in claim 1 in which said attaching members are provided with narrow neck portions.

3. A truss comprising a flexible truss plate provided with a first aperture and a plurality of second apertures which are equidistantly spaced from said first aperture, and a flexible truss pad comprising a flexible elongate member having a length more than twice its average width and having a plurality of pressure members integral therewith and projecting from the rear surface thereof, and two attaching members projecting forwardly from the front surface thereof, one of said attaching members being adapted to fit in said first aperture, and the other of said connecting members being adapted to fit in one of said second apertures.

4. A truss as claimed in claim 3 in which said first aperture and its cooperating attaching member are of larger diameter than said second apertures and their corresponding member.

5. A truss as claimed in claim 3 having a waist band, leg bands, and in which said truss plate is provided with two depending tabs to which said leg bands are secured, said tabs being flexible, and one of said tabs being disposed below said truss pad so as to provide a support at a point below said truss pad, and the other of said tabs being disposed symmetrically with respect to said first tab.

6. A truss pad comprising a flexible elongate member having a length of more than twice its average width and having three aligned pressure members integral therewith, said elongate member providing flexible connecting portions, the distance between the first and third of said pressure members corresponding to the distance between the internal and external rings of the inguinal canal and the second of said pressure members being of substantially rectangular outline and being oriented with its major axis transverse to the axis of said elongate member, and being adapted to overlie and apply pressure to an. intermediate portion of the inguinal canal when said first and third pressure members overlie said internal and external rings.

7. A truss pad comprising a flexible elongate member having a length of more than twice its average width and having three aligned pressure members integral therewith, said elongate member providing flexible connecting portions, the distance between the first and third of said pressure members corresponding to the distance between the internal and external rings of the inguinal canal and the second of said pressure members being adapted to overlie and apply pressure to an intermediate portion of the inguinal canal when said first and third pressure members overlie said internal and external rings, said first, second and third pressure members being of progressively increasing thickness.

8. A truss pad comprising a flexible elongate member having a length of more than twice its average width and having three aligned pressure members integral therewith, said elongate member providing flexible connecting portions, the 7 distance between the first and third of said pressure members corresponding to the distance between the internal and external rings of the inguinal canal and the second of said pressure members being adapted to overlie and apply pressure to an intermediate portion of the inguinal canal when said first and third pressure members overlie said internal and external rings, said third pressure member being of a generally triangular shape so as to provide support to said external ring and to a point above said external ring.

9. A truss pad comprising an elongate member formed of resilient material, having a length of more than twice its average width and having three aligned pressure members integral therewith, said elongate member providing connecting portions, said connecting portions being of a thickness substantially less than the thickness of said pressure members so as to render said connecting portions flexible and so as to cause said pressure members to project away from the surface of an adjacent connecting portion to a substantial extent so that said flexible portions will be held out of contact with the body, the distance between the first and third of said pressure members corresponding to the distance between the internal-and external rings of the inguinal canal and the second of said pressure members being of elongate outline and being oriented with its major axis transverse to the axis of said elongate member, and being of a thickness at least equal to the thickness of said first pressure member and adapted to overlie and apply pressure to an intermediate portion of the inguinal canal when said first and third pressure members overlie said internal and external rings, respectively.

LOUIS P. MACK. RUSSELL A. VJINTERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 18,708 Riggs Nov. 24, 1857 760,615 Crolius May 24, 1904 917,812 Temme Apr. 13, 1909 2,022,474 Miller Nov. 26, 1935 2,072,169 Herzberg Mar. 2, 1937 2,078,523 Arnsparger Apr. 27, 1937 2,180,332 Westphal Nov. 14, 1939 2,282,021 Benningfield May 5, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 175,856 Germany Aug. 22, 1905 

